Today’s poem is chosen and introduced by our registrar, Ms. Holland:
‘On Sade’ by Roger Robinson – is not by a woman (sorry, Mr Fernandes), but it is about a female icon: Sade (pronounced Shah-day). She was a massive pop star in the 1980s and epitomised elegance and sophistication. The poem was chosen and is introduced by Ms. Stansfield – with added bonus tracks:
Roger Robinson is a writer, poet and performer who lives between Trinidad and London and in 2019 he won the T.S.Elliot poetry prize. He describes himself as ‘a British resident with a Trini sensibility’. His subject matter is wide ranging and he raises awareness about what it is to be British and the connection between former British colonies and the country today.
Here is an interview with him where he talks about Windrush, the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the connection between poetry, prayer and empathy.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jan/16/ts-eliot-prize-winner-roger-robinson
I have chosen this poem as I love the sentiment.
On Sade
Sade never liked doing more
than one take of a song.
She thought it unnecessary.
She had been brought up
to avoid the unnecessary.
Her family had not been
very expressive, yet they all
knew there was depth there.
But dramatically sharing –
that was just considered extra.
Everything, even down to what
she wore, was pared back
to the foundations. The engineer
asked What’s the track’s name?
Paradise, she replied.
He asked her about the mistakes in her vocal;
she answered, What mistakes?
